The university has been criticised for spending thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money on “away days” at hotels just yards from its main city centre campus.

A university has been criticised for spending thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money on “away days” at hotels just yards from its main city centre campus.

Cardiff University has been urged to re-think its spending priorities after figures revealed management splashed out more than £23,000 on council away days from 2008-12.

Data obtained by Plaid Cymru using the Freedom of Information Act shows the university booked the upmarket Parc and St David’s hotels for its council members, senior officers and guests.

In 2008, Cardiff University paid St David’s Hotel and Spa a total of £9,182.50 – including £2,580 on overnight accommodation – for 35 delegates.

A year later, Cardiff forked out £1,665 on room hire and paid £1,573 for food and drink at the Parc Hotel, which is situated just 400 metres from the university’s base in Cathays Park.

It comes after vice-chancellor Professor Colin Riordan this week announced plans to slash more than 200 jobs in a controversial cost-saving exercise. Cardiff University’s new Voluntary Severance Scheme allows eligible workers a year’s salary up to £30,000, before national insurance and tax deductions.

Simon Thomas, Plaid’s education spokesman, said: “The vice-chancellor only on Monday said that in order to invest the university has to control its costs.

“That means the university has to re-think its spending and consider whether certain spending is justified, particularly with plans to axe between 200 and 400 jobs.

“I don’t see how it can be acceptable to hire a room in a hotel like the Parc which is just a few hundred yards from the university, particularly when finances are tight. It would send the wrong message to staff and the public if this practice continued.

“There must be suitable accommodation within the university where a programme of presentations and discussions can be held at a fraction of the costs of hiring hotel room and equipment. The university needs to show a lead in driving down unnecessary costs.”

According to information released by the university, a council away day is held in the autumn term of each year and would usually include formal council business.

Jonathan Isaby, political director of the TaxPayers’ Alliance campaign group, said: “Taxpayers will be aghast that the university has been spending tens of thousands of pounds on away days for a few dozen big-wigs.

“The spending is all the more outrageous when you consider that these expensive venues are just a stone’s throw from the university, which has no shortage of rooms in which these meetings could have taken place.

“When budgets are so tight, the exorbitant cost of these jollies is completely unacceptable and must be reduced as a matter of urgency.”

Cardiff’s Voluntary Severance Scheme, which closes on April 30, is open to all staff with a minimum of two years’ service who are expected to continue their employment for a further two years.

According to Cardiff, the scheme aims to create a “sustainable staffing profile” appropriate to the university’s plans and needs for the future.

It is designed to give staff, all of whom are eligible to apply, the power to make their own decisions and leave their employment with an “appropriate compensatory payment”.

It is not known exactly how many employees will be allowed their voluntary severance, as net savings will vary from worker to worker.

A spokesman for Cardiff University said its council meets away from the university once an academic year in line with other similar-sized public sector and business organisations.

He added: “As the meeting is a whole-day event, it is held outside the university to ensure there is no disruption to teaching and other university activities.

“It provides an opportunity to discuss key areas of importance including strategic issues that affect the university. Council has the ultimate power of decision in respect of all matters affecting Cardiff University’s 6,000 staff and 28,000 students.

“Four formal meetings of council are also held each academic year. All of these meetings take place at the university, incurring no additional costs.”

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